Services
Night guards and jaw
A night guard is a hard plastic cover for your teeth that you wear to sleep, to take the wear if you grind or clench. A jaw check is a look at how your jaw joints, muscles and bite are working.
What happens
Two visits: one for the impression or scan, one to fit the guard.
- 01
Step 1: The talk and the check
Dr. DeJesus asks about waking with a tight jaw, headaches and worn teeth, and feels the muscles and joints.
- 02
Step 2: The impression or scan
We take a mold or a scan of your teeth. A lab makes the guard.
- 03
Step 3: The fitting
You try it on and we adjust it until it feels right. We show you how to clean it.
- 04
Step 4: The check-in
At your next exam we look at the guard and your teeth, and at how you're feeling.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
Nothing here needs numbing. The impression can make you gag a little, and a scan can help if it does.
Other choices, and waiting
Guards come in hard and softer materials. A hard acrylic guard is what we make, because it holds up to grinding. Without a guard, grinding can keep wearing the teeth. A guard does not stop grinding, and it can't treat a medical condition. It protects the teeth.
Risks and after-care
A new guard can feel bulky and make you drool for a few nights. A jaw that gets more sore with it, or a bite that feels different, is a reason to call us. Clean it daily and keep it dry in its case.
How it is billed
A written estimate comes first. A night guard is often not covered the way a filling is, so ask your plan and we'll help you ask.
How fees work
Questions about night guards and jaw
Will a guard stop my grinding?
No. It protects your teeth from the wear. Dr. DeJesus can tell you what else may help and when to see your physician.
Is my jaw clicking a problem?
Sometimes it is just a click. If it hurts, locks or gets worse, she will look at it and may suggest you also see your physician.
Can I buy a guard at the drugstore instead?
You can. A custom guard fits your teeth better and she can adjust it. She'll tell you which she would use for your mouth.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Alba DeJesus, DDS, general dentist, licensed in California.